#torchfall

In no specific order

Fair Game (Clover/Qrow): Lucky Strike-Maroon 5

Torchfall (Roman/Cinder): The Zombie Song-Stephanie Mabey

Rainbow Quartz (Ilia/Emerald): How do You Love Someone-Ashley Tisdale

Phoenix (Taiyang/Raven): Bad at Love-Halsey

Blacksun (Blake/Sun): Right Here-Ashes Remain

Chaos Emerald/Emberald (Cinder/Emerald): Worst In Me-Unlike Pluto

Ladybug (Ruby/Blake): Halo-Beyoncé

Temperature Play (Winter/Cinder): You Don’t Know Me-Elizabeth Gilles

Partners in Cream (Roman/Neo): Partners in Crime-Set it Off

Whiteknight (Weiss/Jaune): Irresistible-Fall Out Boy

Catmeleon (Blake/Ilia): Still into You-Paramore

Rosebird (Summer/Raven): Dead to Me-Melanie Martinez

Spicecream (Cinder/Neo): Bubblegum Bitch-Marina and The Diamonds

Ironwitch (James/Glynda): Dear Future Husband-Meghan Trainor

Prophetic Riches (Oscar/Whitley): Cheap Thrills-Sia

Iceberg (Weiss/Neptune): Cake by the Ocean-DNCE

Taiqrow (Tai/Qrow): The Dream Daddy for Me-JT Music

Frozen Spring (Weiss/Vernal): True Love-P!NK

Flown North (Qrow/Summer): When You’re Gone-Avril Lavigne

Combat Goggles (Yang/Neptune): Bombshell Blonde-Owl City

Grandmasters (Ozma/Salem): Once Upon a Dream-Lana Del Rey

Arkos (Jaune/Pyrrha): Shut Up and Dance-WALK THE MOON

Coppersky (Penny/Ciel): Fairytale-Alexander Rybak

Cinnabuns (Yatsu/Velvet): Teenage Dream-Katy Perry

The roadside diner was packed on the eve of Halloween.

Cinder idly circled the grass beneath them, let one of her flames dance between her fingers and burn everything in its path while they waited, hiding out at the forest’s edge. A safe enough distance to watch but not to be seen.

Urban myths ranked around this place ever since the great massacre of 1978. 15 people died, slaughtered with a butcher’s knife and the killer was never identified. So as is law, stories sprawled like poison ivy, passed down from parents to children in blurrier details every time they were told, of evil spirits cursing the person sitting in the spot of those who were once murdered there and ghosts wandering the kitchen aimlessly.

Of course, this attracted particularly daring (meaning: drunk) teens wanting to experience the „haunted“ place for themselves, especially during this time of the year.

Little did they know that it wouldn’t be ghosts they’d need to fear.

„Would you please watch out with your magic fingers? This is Versace“, Roman whispered next to her, scandalized, the tone of voice he only used when something was expensive and utterly meaningless. Still, she hadn’t noticed just how she had accidentally burned a small hole in his too-fancy-for-the-occasion shirt and went to inspect the damage when something on their right suddenly grabbed her attention.

A satisfied smirk tugged on the corner of her lips as she watched the rusted red Chevy pull into the driveway, reverse and shakily come to a halt in one of the parking spaces. It looked like it would fall apart at any second. And who knew if it would ever turn on again?

„I’ll buy you a new one.“ Her mumbling was barely audible, absent-minded because her eyes had just locked onto the target. Cinder’s smirk turned horrifically sharp in a matter of milliseconds.

„Them?“, Roman asked, one eyebrow raised as he followed her gaze and sized up the passengers emerging from the vehicle one after the other. „Really?“

„Yes. I want them.“ Her voice left no room for uncertainty.

He sighed and clicked his tongue. „I don’t know Cinder, they don’t seem like the sharpest tools around - I can already predict how this is going to go down. Hyperactive over there is a screamer, Pink Streak will die trying to protect his girlfriend even though he knows it’s a lost cause, Blond Boy will pathetically beg for mercy with his big, blue puppy-dog eyes and panic once we crush his spirit. The only one making for a real challenge is Scarlet and I already know you want to take her on. So what’s left for me, huh?“

Cinder shook her head at the annoyance in his voice. „Your inability to perceive nuance continues to amuse me, Roman. For somebody that speaks with such arrogance, you inexplicably missed how the quiet boy and the blonde one hold hands. What an obvious detail to disregard."

Roman hastily leaned forward to get a closer look and groaned when her words proved to be true. He despised that, she knew. „Does it really matter which one he’s fucking? They’re still dreadfully boring.“

She whipped her head around to stare him down. „We’re here to collect souls. Our fun is of marginal importance.“ Her glare immediately increased in vitriol when she saw him mouth along to her words.

„Funny how you keep saying that same sentence when all I hear is „I’m the boss, my rules, I decide“. The key to successfully run a business is to keep your employees happy, Cinder and do I look very happy to you right now? I need some goddamn variety on this month’s victim menu or else I’m gonna starve. And fuck do I hate starving.“

Her expression softened as she exhaled, reached out to caress his cheek with her fingertips gently, softly, with just a hint of warmth lingering beneath. She offered him one of her rarer, fonder smiles and his gaze turned suspicious. „You’ve been so patient thus far. This is one more kill in a series of kills. We’re so close we can taste it. Do you not also think endangering our goal by searching for more… exotic victims isn’t worth the risk it poses?“ She leaned forward, impassive at his irate expression, and stopped mere inches from his ear. „Soon. I promise. And meanwhile, I’m sure I can keep you entertained in.. other ways.“ He visibly shivered when she started toying with his hair, stealing the wind out of whatever word it was he had planned to throw at her. „Your tricks get cheaper every time you use them“, he said, closing his eyes. „Oh, but they work.“

Cinder cut off his reply with her lips, her hands curled around his neck and her body pressed against his, flush, close, hot. Swept up in passion, she even went as far as to allow him to put his hands around her waist, enjoying his touch, the heat, the faint taste of smoke. Fire. She liked everything Fire. She also liked playing him but she was no fool. Despite what he might try to make her believe, he wasn’t this easily distracted, this easily silenced. He may have decided to let it go for tonight, but if they didn’t manage to follow up on their plan soon, he wouldn’t waste time in betraying her. She was sure of that. Roman didn’t pledge allegiance to anyone, especially not to her.

Good thing he wasn’t aware of what she knew. Cinder separated from him with the first honest, wicked grin of the evening, her eyes glowing like embers as she held onto his collar to keep him close. “Let’s go hunt some kids, Roman.” He rolled his eyes. “Fine, but I get Miss Hyperactive. And you pay for dinner tonight. Murder leaves me hungry.” She took his hand and pulled him after her.

This story can also be found on AO3 (where you’re also very free to comment by the way).

who. did. this.

He was realistic about it. There was a hardness in his heart.  

He loved hated her. 

No more fantasies.